Lighted bobber for fishlines



W. L. KUHNS LIGHTED BOBBER FOR FISHLINES May 21, 1940.

Filed May 13, 1939 V INVENTOR ATTORNEY,

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED..- STATES "PATENT OFFICE LIGHTED nonnan Fon nsnnmas William L. Kuhnl, Girard, Ohio Application May 13, 1939, Serial No. 278,446

2 crania- (Ci. 43-1-1) This invention relates to a lighted bobber ,for

fishlines.

means in closed position so as to keep the bobber.

illuminated continually when desired.-

A still further object'of this invention is'the provision of a lighted bobber provided with means for setting the switch means in open position so that the bobber may be used during the daytime without the light.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a lighted bobber for flshlines formed v of wood soas to have a certain definite buoyancy and provided with a removable top portion so that the bulb and battery therein can be conveniently replaced when necessary.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a lighted bobber for flshlines that is impervious to water so that the same may be submerged and the light be visible and undiminished thereby.

The lighted bobber shown and described herein has been designed to provide an inexpensive, simple, yet practical lighted bobber for night fishing. It is well-known that many and various attempts have been made to providelighted bobbers, the majority of which comprised complicated metal structures carrying complicated switch means, many of which have proven impractical under actual fishing conditions. The present invention therefore provides a lighted bobber formed of wood so as to be naturally buoy ant and provided with an extremely simple switch mechanism, a portion of which supports the electric bulb just above the upper end of a battery positioned in a hollowed out portion of the bobher. The switch means hasbeen provided with a simple adjustment so that it can be automatically actuated by a fish biting on a line attached thereto or it may be held in closed position thus keeping the bulb illuminated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the combination and arrangement 01' parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embetween and to establish electrical contact with bodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed with-. out departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the lighted bobber showingit in approximate floating position and showing portions of a flshline attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional side elevation of the lighted bobber showing in detail the positioning oi the battery 'andbulb therein and the switch means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the bulb v supporting bracket shown in Figure 2.

By referring to the drawing and Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the invention comprises a lightedbobber having a body portion l and a rounded top portion 2; a plurality of horizontal ports 3 in the rounded top 2 are'equipped. with suitable transparent material 4 so that light from a bulb therein may be seen. Positioned on the top of this rounded top portion 2 there is a coil spring 5 which serves as a convenient means for attaching a fishline 6 to the top 01' the bobber by wrapping the same about the coil spring 5. In Figure 1 the bobber is shown in approximate floating position, the surface of the water being indicated by the broken lines I. It will be seen that the flshline 6 is preferably loopedthru an eyelet I positioned on the lower portion of the the switch means in an open position and thus 40 prevent the light therein from lighting.

By referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that a battery I! is positioned in a hollowed out portion ofthe body member I by means of a tubular holder H which is attached at one side of the hollowed out portion of the body member I in such manner as to leave a passageway along its other side so that the switch rod It may pass upwardly alongside the tubular holder H. In order that an electric bulb I! may be positioned within the bobber, a bulb supporting bracket I6 is positioned between the battery l3 and the tubular holder 14 in such manner as to firmly wedge it therethe side of the battery I 3. This bulb supporting bracket i8 is provided with an opening I! adapted to receive the threaded portion of the bulb l5 and is also provided with a smaller hole 18 thru which the upper end of the switch rod i0 is passed. In order that a downwardly motion of the switch rod ill will result in springing the bulb supporting bracket l6 sufilciently to allow the bulb l5 to contact the battery l3, a nut I 9 is threadably positioned on the upper end of the switch rod It! just above the opening in the bulb supporting bracket I 6. This nut l9 permits the adjustment of the switch means after the battery has been replaced within the device and the bulb supporting bracket i6 repositioned; it being understood that it might possibly be positioned in slight relation to the uppermost end of the battery l3 thus requiring some adjustment of the switch rod Ill in relation thereto. It will also be seen by referring to Figure 2 of the drawing that a reflector 20 is positioned within the rounded top portion 2 of the bobber by means of a rivet 2| which also supports the coil spring 5. It is obvious that a washer such as that shown at 22 in Figure 2 is preferably positioned between the body member I and the rounded top portion 2 so as to insure a water tight joint between these parts.

What I claim is:

1. A fishline bobber comprising a hollow wooden body, a rounded top portion removably positioned on said body, a plurality of openings in said top portion. transparent material positioned in the said openings in a water tight manner, a tubular battery holder positioned in the said hollow wooden body, an L-shaped upper end of which extends thru an opening in the said L-shaped bracket, a nut threaded on the upper end of the said rod and positioned immediately above the said L-shaped bracket, the lower end of the said rod extending out of the the said rod so that the same may be held sta-- tionary in relation to the gland or permitted to move in relation to the gland, an eyelet formed on the bottom of the said rod to provide attachment means for a fishline so that jerks upon the fishline will result in the vertical movement of the said rod and a vertical movement of the bulb supporting portion of the L-.-shaped bracket so as to bring the said bulb into contact with the said battery.

2. A flshline bobber comprising a hollow wooden body, a rounded top portion remcvably positioned on said body, a plurality oi! openings in said top portion, transparent material positioned in the said openings in a water tight manner, a reflector positioned in the said rounded top portion, a tubular battery holder positioned in the said hollow wooden body, an L-shaped bracket one end of which is positioned between the said tubular battery holder and a battery positioned therein so as to contact the side of the said battery an opening in the other end of the said L-shaped bracket adapted to receive an electric bulb and hold the same just above the upper end of the said battery, a rod movably positioned in the hollow wooden body, the upper end of which extends thru an opening in the said L-shaped bracket, a nut threaded on the upper end of the said rod and positioned immediately above the said L-shaped bracket, the lower end of the said rod extending out of the said wooden body at its lower end thru a suitable gland, a set screw positioned in the said gland and adapted to exert pressure against the said rod so that the same may be held stationary in relation to the gland or permitted to move in relation to the gland, an eyelet formed on the bottom of the said rod to provide attachment means for a flshline so that jerks upon the fishline will result in the vertical movement. 01' the said rod and a vertical movement of the bulb supporting portion of the L-shaped bracket so as to bring the said bulb into contact with the said battery.

WILLIAM L. KUHNS. 

